Ship for submarine observations



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(No Model.)

, R. F. S. BELISLE.A

1 SHIP FOR SUBMARINE OBSERVATIONS. No. 385,656. Patented July 31'8'88.

"u'f'IUlll'fnUlff' MMU' lllllzl WIW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

ROBERT F. S. BELISLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNO'R OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERICK BOURQUIN, OF OAMDEN, NEW JERSEY..

SHIP FOR SUBMARINE OBSERVATIONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,656, dated July 3, 1888.

Application tiled February 27, 1888. Serial No. 205,353. (N o model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT F. S. BELIsLE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing in the city and county ot' Philadelphia, State ofPenn- 5 lsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ships for Submarine Observations, Ste., which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

to My invention consists of a ship of novel construction, whereby the same is adapted for submarine observations, Ste. 1

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a ship embodying my invention. Fig. 2 repi 5 resent-s a transverse section thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a ship which is formed of the hold 1 and decks 2O 2, 3, and 4, all properly connected and braced or otherwise strengthened, said decks being accessible by means of rstairs or steps 5, suitably located. Below the deck 2 are saloons or apartments 6, which are connected with said 25 deck and the sides of the hull of the ship.

The decks 2 and 3 form the saloons 7 and 8.

In the sides of the hull corresponding te the saloons Gand 7 are bulls-eyes, lenses, or lights B, which are secured water-tight in position,

c and made of transparent or clear glass, so as te be plainly seen through.

The hold has secured to it a valve, 10, (one or more,) and a pipe, 11, (one 0r more) the latter being connected with a pump, 12, lo-

35 cated on the upper deck. The rod 13 of the valve l0 has an operating-rod, 14, which is accessible at either of the decks.

It will be seen that 0n opening the valve 10 the hold may be supplied with water, so as to' ,c sink the ship to such depth that the several lights B are below the waterline. It will now be seen that the water outside of the ship and objects therein may be seen through the lights B, thus affording amusement or instruction to 1,5 those making the observations.

When it is desired to raise the ship, the pu mp l2 is operated, the valve 10 being closed, whereby the water is removed from the hull 1 through the pipe 11. In this condition the ship may be moved from place to place, after the manner of a barge, although, it' desired, a propeller or propellers may be applied to the ship .for evident purposes.

The lights in each saloon admit of viewing the Water at different depths. 5

I am aware that it is not new to provide vessels for submarine purposes with bullseyes, whereby observations may he made from within the vessel and beneath the water. Neither is it new to providea floating dock or vessel with water-inlet valves located below the waterline, but operated from an upper deck. Neither is it new to provide the holds ot' such docks or vessels with tubes or pipes, by means of which and mechanism in the upper port-ion ofthe vessel the water can be discharged from said hold; but I am not aware that the particular construction herein set forth and claimed is old, wherein below the lower deck are placed one or more compartments having bulls-eyes, said compartments also being normally below the water-line of the vessel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 75 Patent, is ,l

A ship or vessel, substantial] y as described, having several decks and portlights arranged in the sides of the hull thereof for the purpose ofobservation when the vessel is submerged 8o to any desired depth, an inlet-valve near the bottom for the admission of water to the lower hold of said vessel, and discharge mechanism for relieving the vessel of the same.

ROBERT F. S. BELISLE.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHETM, JAMES F. KELLY. 

